I Went Searching For an Indian and Found I Was a Dutchman

I Went Searching for an Indian and Found I Was a Dutchman.

I've always been interested in history so when my Uncle Wayne gave me some information about our family roots I had to begin changing the way I've always thought about where I came from. We had always been told, "there's Indian blood in our ancestry, we just haven't been able to prove it". I have been surprised to learn that while searching for an Indian link, I found a Dutchman. Now I'm not saying there may not be some Indian blood somewhere but the prospect looks dimmer the more I find out.

I also have had some general prejudices about folks back east, especially areas like Ohio (I grew up in the Woody Hayes era and couldn't stand Ohio State). What a surprise (and God ordained I believe) to find we arrived in Ohio in the early 1800s, my ancestor fought in an Ohio Regiment in the Civil War, and came to Kansas afterwards. That, and some visits to Ohio, has adjusted my thinking.

And the other reason why-to keep communication between the far flung members of my family and encourage them to drop a note so we can keep in touch with the details of their lives. We miss too much by not being there in the day to day workings of life. So, leave a post for all of us.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

On this September 7, 2013, it's a nice sunny, cool, morning with a wind expected to be 7-13 knots out of the south. Many of you who know me also know I have a sailboat and this is near perfect sailing weather. So you know what we'll be doing.
Unless you read this blog regularly (hopefully with more regularity than I write it) you know the Admiral and I have a sailboat, a 27' Newport, built in 1970, we've named the Glenn E. You may also know why we named it that (see post "One of Those Weekends 2/26/12). Knowing that, you might also know why today is such a special day.
Forty-three years ago today, the namesake of our boat, SSGT Glenn H English, Jr, gave his life for his buddies and our country in the Phu My district of South Vietnam. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. So this is an important day for us. Would you take a moment to read this and remember Sgt English? Maybe even pray for his family and the families of those who still to this day bear the scars of loss. We show the fiber of our character by the honor we show to those who sacrifice.

PHU MY DISTRICTREPUBLIC OF VIETNAM7 SEPTEMBER
1970Staff Sergeant English was riding in the lead
armored personnelcarrier in a four
vehicle column when an enemy mine explodedin
front of his vehicle. As the vehicle swerved from the road, aconcealed enemy force waiting in ambush opened fire
withautomatic weapons and anti - tank
grenades, striking the vehicleseveral
times and setting it on fire. Staff Sergeant Englishescaped from the disabled vehicle and, without pausing
toextinguish the flames on his clothing,
rallied his stunned unit.He then led it
in a vigorous assault, in the face of heavyenemy
automatic weapons fire, on the entrenched enemyposition. This prompt and courageous action routed the enemyand saved his unit from destruction. Following the
assault,Staff Sergeant English heard
cries of three men still trappedinside
the vehicle. Paying no heed to warnings that theammunition and fuel in the burning personnel carrier mightexplode at any moment, Staff Sergeant English raced to
thevehicle and climbed inside to rescue
his wounded comrades.As he was lifting
one of the men to safety, the vehicleexploded,
mortally wounding him and the man he wasattempting
to save. By his extraordinary devotion to duty,indomitable courage, and utter disregard for his own safety,Staff Sergeant English saved his unit from destruction
andselflessly sacrificed his life in a
brave attempt to savethree comrades.
Staff Sergeant English's conspicuousgallantry
and intrepidity in action at the cost of his lifewere an inspiration to his comrades
and are in the highesttraditions of the
United States Army.

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONORwas presented to his familyon 8 August 1974atBlair Houseby
theVice President of the United States
of AmericaGerald R. Ford